Daughters of rodeo owner find their rewards in barrel racing

Friday

Oct 5, 2012 at 9:51 AM

When Victoria and Priscilla Detweiler were 5 and 6 years old, respectively, they decided they wanted to do rodeo barrel racing, galloping around barrels in an arena at top speed. "I liked how everyone had their own horse going fast, and it's all about you. You're in control," says Priscilla, who recently turned 12.

JESSICA COHEN

When Victoria and Priscilla Detweiler were 5 and 6 years old, respectively, they decided they wanted to do rodeo barrel racing, galloping around barrels in an arena at top speed.

"I liked how everyone had their own horse going fast, and it's all about you. You're in control," says Priscilla, who recently turned 12.

"I'm always afraid I'll fall off," says Victoria. "But when we were nervous, we told the trainer (Mike Soldano). He said it would be OK. Just try for yourself and be safe."

Their father, Dr. Alan Detweiler, now owns Malibu Dude Ranch in Milford, and his daughters have been spending time there most of their lives, as he has. In competitions, they both ride Jupiter, 19, a gentle and able appaloosa.

They handled any apprehensions routinely. "I make sure my stirrups are in, I'm sitting right, holding the horn at turns, dropping the outside rein, so he feels what my shoulder does," says Victoria.

"I make sure my feet are positioned, the tack secure, so the saddle doesn't quietly slide off," said Priscilla.

Their persistence has been rewarded. Priscilla recalls coming in second, competing with older people on bigger horses.

"The other horses were excited and running fast," she says. "But I relaxed — if they beat me, they did. Turned out they weren't going as fast as they seemed."

Victoria recalls a hot day when she was 7, and Priscilla had gone first on Jupiter. "I didn't think he'd go fast because he'd just gone. But I felt I did good, and I got third place."

Then on Christmas day of 2010, they were called outside their cabin and found two horses they never saw before — their own.

"I expected screeching," says their mother, Phyllis Detweiler. "But they just looked at each other."

"I couldn't believe I had my own horse to myself," said Priscilla.

But they found ownership also has challenges.

"It took a year before Mrs. Claus let me put a halter on her," said Victoria. "She would try to bite me. On rides, she would spin and rear. I got scared."

"If I said stop, Holly kept going," said Priscilla. "When I was on the ground it looked like the horse was walking me. She pushed me with her head to get her ears scratched. Or she'd push me to the side so she could get through."

"It was frustrating," said Victoria. "Practicing with barrels, she just walked and wouldn't trot or lope. But then it got better. I never thought she wasn't the one for me."

"In February I was wondering, is this the best horse for my ability?" Priscilla recalls. "She'd be perfect and then flop. The seasons changed, and with spring fever, she just wanted to run and play and be a horse.